6-year-old boy with autism reads storybooks to shelter dogs

An autistic boy is opening us, his mother says, after he began reading to shelter dogs. (ABC News/Lisa Dekowski-Ferranti)

KTRK

Thursday, May 19, 2016

GARDENA, CA --

A 6-year-old California boy is helping shy rescue dogs come out of their shells by reading them storybooks.

Jacob Tumalan, 6, who has autism, began reading to pups after his aunt, Lisa Dekowski-Ferranti, brought him to Carson Animal Shelter in Gardena, California, where she and her daughter Lindsay volunteer.

Mom Katie Tumalan told ABC News that Jacob's weekly visits to the shelter have improved his reading skills and even helped him come out of his own shell a bit.